It’s that time again, friends.    In this season finale, we bring back a fan-favourite episode – This Is Your Death! With respect, we retell the tales of some of the most bizarre and mind-boggling ways that people have died.  Thank you for listening to our podcast up til now. We appreciate every single listener who’s taken the time to send their love, thoughts, and suggestions for future content.  Until next time, it’s Maria & Ammo signing off! 💀🌱 Links: Death by Deodarant via Indepedant CoDeath by beard, and it now being 450 years old via Atlas ObscuraTitanic Pose of Death via Press ReaderMount Etna via Global News on YouTubeHorace Ars Poetica via Poetry In TranslationFollow Philotimo Life on social!TwitterFacebookInstagramTikTok

In this episode, Maria and Ammo explore the rarely discussed topic of grief in the corporate world.    Maria sits down with Sarah Hines, an executive coach and grief advocate, who emphasizes the importance of educating corporations about handling grief in various life situations beyond death. Sarah provides valuable insights into creating a more compassionate work culture and offers guidance for colleagues and supervisors on supporting grieving employees.  Whether you've personally faced grief while managing professional responsibilities or you're a people leader seeking ways to better support your team, this episode provides a roadmap for navigating this complex terrain. –   Links: $20 Million Robot Moves 9 Boxes, Either Quits or Dies, Is a Hero via The Big LeadWhy queer people need to talk about disenfranchised grief via Gay TimesDisenfranchised grief in queer companionship and chosen family via California State University San BernardinoDisenfranchised grief following African American Homicide loss: an inductive case study via National Library of MedicineDisenfranchised grief and social inequality: bereaved African Canadians and oppositional narratives about the violent deaths of friends and family members via ResearchGateThe psychology of collective grief via The British Psychological SocietyHow to Process Our Collective Grief via Yes!MagazineHow to Support Employees through Grief and Loss via SHRMCompassionate and Bereavement Leave via CanadaAmerican Federal Bereavement Leave Via Indeed (spoiler: there currently isn’t any)LGBTQ grief support: Journey through love, loss, and renewed hope via HopeHealthCoQueer Death Resources via Radical Death StudiesFollow Philotimo Life on social! TwitterFacebookInstagramTikTok

Maria and Ammo may not look like your run-of-the-mill gamers, but don't let their polished exteriors fool you – they’re secretly (maybe not to secret anymore?) gaming enthusiasts. From storming the virtual battlefield in first-person shooters to embarking on fantastical quests in RPGs, they've weathered their fair share of digital demises. In this episode, Maria and Ammo venture deep into the pixelated realms of some of their favourite video games. They dissect the portrayal of death in these digital universes and explore the psychology behind the various depictions. Whether it's the heart-pounding intensity of a climactic battle or the whimsical charm of a game over screen, they've got it all covered. Maria and Ammo also spotlight games where death isn't just a possibility, but a prerequisite for in-game progress.  Join your favourite macabre MC’s on a nostalgic odyssey as they revisit and look at some amazing games that even their parents would approve of!   Links: Representation of Death in Independent Videogames: Providing a Space for Meaningful Death Reflection via University of Central FloridaReflecting on Attitudes Towards Death Through the Use of Immersive Virtual Reality Commercial Video Games via ACM Digital LibraryMortician’s Tale Twitch stream via Twitch Streamer, visager_Protecting Trans Bodies in Death via Ask a Mortician on YouTubeThat Dragon, Cancer 2016 Award Acceptance Speech for Games of ImpactA Little Death Positivity In Video Games Can Be Good via GameSpotTo appreciate modern life, I can’t stop playing games about death via LA TimesThe Paradox Of “Death” In Video Games via Downward Thrust on YouTube Spiritfarer and How Death Affects Us via LeadHead on YouTube   Follow Philotimo Life on social! TwitterFacebookInstagramTikTok -

Maria's on a mission to add a splash of colour to Ammo's wardrobe, and guess what shade she's picked? Green!  Join Maria as she chats with Candance Currie, a green burial advocate focusing on creating more green burial spaces. They dive deep into the world of green burials, explore Candance's journey into this unique field, and uncover the many benefits of going green for the afterlife.  But that's not all! Maria and Ammo also dissect the not-so-eco-friendly aspects of other burial practices, such as modern embalming and cremation. And, because it wouldn't be Philotimo Life without it, they take a spin on the Wheel of Misfortune for some predictably chaotic fun.  Whether you're a green burial aficionado or you've never thought twice about your final resting place, this episode promises to open your eyes to a world of alternative burial practices.  Prepare to bury your preconceptions and embrace the green way to rest in peace! Links: 11 Types of Green Burials via TalkDeathThe environmental toll of cremating the dead via National Geographic Why Conventional Burial Harms the Environment via Milton FieldsDulux Colour – GreenThe Medieval Arundel Tomb in Chichester via Medieval.EU An Arundel Tomb by Philip Larkin via Poetry Foundation  How a Common Death Ritual Made It Harder to Mourn the Loss of My Mother via TIMEEnvironmental Costs of the Afterlife via C&ENUnderstanding Aquamation via EireneCan I have a Green Burial in Canada? via EireneToxic embalming chemicals via The Empty Square Five Principles of a Green Burial via Green Burial Canada   Follow Philotimo Life on social! TwitterFacebookInstagramTikTok

Hey friends,  We have a special announcement! You'll hear Maria share that we have TWO sessions up for submission in for the 2024 SXSW programming, and we need YOUR votes! Please be sure to vote for our proposed sessions before August 20th, which is when voting closes! Maria wants to bring these sessions to the forefront of our collective conversations and societal discussions – since grief and death literacy are life skills everyone needs – and this is one way to do it. Links to vote are below, along with a summary of each session. Thank you for your votes and endless support 💖   VOTING LINKS Beyond Empathy: The Superpower Skill of the Future: https://bit.ly/3P2EKcP Good Mourning: Community Discussions Over Grief and Death: https://bit.ly/3QKN95H   SESSION DESCRIPTIONS Beyond Empathy: The Superpower Skill of the Future This session equips leaders and organizers with the skills and resources they need to lead compassionately and with a human-centric approach to navigating death and grief-related topics. This includes burnout, layoffs, the climate crisis, the death of a loved one, and other life transitions.   Good Mourning: Community Discussions Over Grief and Death This session is a meet-up to provide a space to lessen the tension and anxiety we feel when it comes to navigating death and grief discussions. People will be provided with prompt questions to discuss topics related to dying, grief, and death and will be encouraged to discuss these topics, which are often otherwise discouraged to discuss in most settings.

Maria and Ammo delve into the realms of death, afterlife beliefs, and funeral rites in this season’s episode of Historical Perspectives of Death II! Join them as they journey through ancient tales of Norse Mythology, and explore the modern-day practices of Haitian Vodou.    Here’s what you can expect from each segment:    Norse Mythology Explore the realms of Helheim, Fólkvangr, and ValhallaMysteries of Ragnarok and the end of the worldHistorical preservation and retelling of Norse mythologies   Haitian Vodou Gede, the spirit of deathParallels to other religionsAddressingpop culture and Hollywood misconceptionsCultural insights and the unraveling of the history of Haitian Vodou Now's the time to rest your axe, grab some mead, and allow this shield maiden and her trusty partner in death, grief, and afterlife lore to regale you with the tales of old and new.   Links: Death and the Afterlife In Norse MythologyRagnarok: What You Need To KnowFolkvangr: Freya’s RealmTen Norse Mythology Facts You Need to KnowVodou: The Black Religion That’s Been Maligned for CenturiesThe Mystery and Magic of Haitian Vodou Funeral RitesHaitian Funeral: Customs, Traditions & EtiquetteVodou Songs in Haitian Creole and EnglishCultural Spotlight: Haitian Funeral TraditionsThe Guardian - Vodou is elusive and endangered, but it remains the soul of Haitian peopleFollow Philotimo Life on social! TwitterFacebookInstagramTikTok

Your favourite Macabre MCs are back with a very special guest! In this episode, they hear one of Maria's dear friends and mentor, Heather Massey, discuss this new death-positive movement that's making waves. She also shares her personal experiences with death, her story about her mother's death, and how death and birth are more similar than we would typically assume... Links: Death Over DinnerConversation ProjectWhat is community deathcare?Canadian Hospice and Palliative Care Association (CHPCA)The Nightingale Centre for Grieving Children and FamiliesBereavement Support by Province OntarioAlbertaSaskatchewanManitobaQuebecBritish ColumbiaPEINova ScotiaNewfoundland and Labrador New Brunswick Nunavut YukonNorthwest Territories Quotes about deathFollow Philotimo Life on social! TwitterFacebookInstagramTikTok

Have you ever wondered why Death is often portrayed as a hooded skeleton? Or why he carries a scythe? Or why he's always a he? Well, in this episode, Maria and Ammo take you on a historical adventure to break it down! They also look at Death as presented in more popular media such as the TV show Adventure Time, and The Sandman comics. Join them for another episode that covers the multifaceted presence of death in popular media! Links: The Many Appearances of Death Maria can’t like fun thingsInfographics: Visualizing the History of PandemicsTalkDeath – The Most Popular Depictions Of Death In ArtThe Seventh Seal (don't hate us for linking a wikipedia article, please. we're sensitive.)El Silbon - Whistling Man FORBES – The Ambiguous Ending To Adventure Time Explained Cinamon Hadley – The Inspiration for Neil Gaiman's DeathSandman Fandom – DeathCollider – How 'The Sandman' Reimagines Death as a CharacterFollow Philotimo Life on social! TwitterFacebookInstagramTikTok

Your favourite duo of death is back for season three! After some super exciting Philotimo Life updates (including news on a new episode schedule, and Philotimo corporate grief coaching), you'll hear from Dr. Susan Srigley.  Susan is a Professor of Religions and Cultures at Nipissing University, Ontario, Canada.  In this episode, you'll explore the need for higher-level death education and... a death cake cafe?   Links: Lifting the Lid, Why Death Education Matters To Young People w/ Prof Susan Srigley and Death Ambassadors Death Denial: Hiding and Camouflaging Death The Problem with Death AvoidanceDeath Literacy is Life LiteracyFollow Dr.Susan Srigley on Instagram!Follow Philotimo Life on social! TwitterFacebookInstagramTikTok

Now that you've survived season 2, join your hosts as we look back at the most mind-blowing moments, funniest bits, and guest insights so far. But that's not all... You'll also hear a brand-new, exclusive blooper dance track (courtesy of editor Stacie), some hilarious skits, cameos, and we'll even spitball some ideas for season three and beyond! Oh, and you won't want to miss the head-to-head showdown for the title of "Season 2 Ultimate Thanatologist". Stay tuned for more, folks.

Welcome to the penultimate episode of season 2!  There’s nobody more suited to guide us through this last stage than an end-of-life expert with over 25 years of experience. Olga Nikolajev RN, MA, CT is an end-of-life nurse, doula, dying well advocate, and cannabis educator. She’ll use her death doula skills to teach us about dying well from a holistic point of view. This includes the spiritual, mental, physical, sexual, and emotional aspects. Yep. You read that right! We’ll also talk about her work in policy change, death literacy, social support, and even advocacy for psychedelics. Join us as we change how we approach our dying experience... Show notes: Kathy Kortes-Miller Working on educating children about Death LiteracyPolitics Behind Ontario’s SexEd Curriculum  “Strong social support decreases mental health problems in young adults” via McGill University“Ontario ‘completely ignored and bulldozed’ problems in long-term care: former inspector” via Global News“Comfort Care, Hospice or Palliative Care; What's the Difference?” via Compassus Kerry Newnin“Cannabis In Hospice: Growing Demand And Acceptance For End-Of-Life Care” via Forbes“A Simple Guide to the Endocannabinoid System” via Healthline“Four Terminally Ill Canadians Gain Legal Right To Use Magic Mushrooms For End-Of-Life Distress” via Forbes

Since you all loved the “Ancient Perspectives On Death” episode from last season, we’re resurrecting it as a regular format! This time around, Maria and Ammo discuss The Torajan people of Indonesia, who hang out with their dead on an annual basis, Tibetan Sky Burials, and more! Let’s see what we can learn from other cultures about giving our loved ones a proper send-off and even continuing our relationship with them. And don’t forget to let us know what other cultures you want us to cover in future episodes. Show notes: BBC News: Living with the dead in IndonesiaCleaning the dead: the afterlife rituals of the Torajan peopleTibetan Sky Burials: Stumbling upon the secret ritual of feeding the dead to vulture 'angels'Sky Burials: Tradition Becomes Controversial Tourist Attraction | Short Film ShowcaseSpiritfarer

It’s the 21st Century, so why are funerals still so religious and downbeat? If only there was an alternative… some sort of Life Cycle Celebrant? You’re in luck! Gone are the stuffy old preachers, and in comes the secular master of ceremonies, Linda Stuart. Linda creates meaningful ceremonies to help people honour the difficult changes in life and to also celebrate the joyful ones. We’ll discuss what she does, the myth of closure, the Welsh word to describe a grieving “homesickness for something to which you cannot return,” and even toxic positivity (Ammo rant detected!)  Join us and see why cold, dusty churches don’t always have to be written into your final chapter. Show notes: Check out Linda Stuart’s workWhat is Toxic Positivity? Via Very Well MindThe Myth of Closure: Why Experts Say It Doesn’t Exist via How Stuff Works Welsh word: Hiraeth

Join your unhallowed hosts for This Is Your Death!  This is a game show where we detail the wildest, most unusual, and downright brutal deaths throughout history. From blood eagles to laughing yourself to death, Blackbeard’s last stand, and more, Ammo and Maria cover the lot. We’ll also quiz each other on which incidents sound more like they were from Ancient Greece or the UK! Reach out to us with more infamous fatalities and this may not be the last you see of this format... Muahahaha. Show notes: “Dying from Laughing Too Hard” Via Healthline“10 Incredibly Bizarre Ways People Died In Ancient Greece” via List VerseHugh le Despenser being hanged, drawn, and quartered“The BRUTAL Murder of King Edward II” via videoThe Brazen Bull Torture and Death DeviceBlast from the past: The Battle of York

Grieving is never easy. But who said you’ve got to deal with it alone? Bring in an expert - that’s what we did! Irish Dhindsa is a professional grief support worker, specializing in community outreach at the Bereaved Families of Ontario. She’s here to talk to us about support systems, our journey of healing, and even her similar experiences to Ammo with Punjabi culture. We then put what we’ve learned to the test with a game of Wheel of Misfortune! Finally, Irish walks us through the physical changes that our brains go through when experiencing trauma - the neuroanatomy of grief. Get to grips with your grief right here, folks.   Show notes: https://www.bereavedfamilies.ca/ Ontario support systems for grief and bereavementSikh and Punjabi death and end-of-life rituals https://deathcafe.com/ https://www.bereavedfamilies.ca/tipsheets What to expect when grieving via Bereaved Families of OntarioFunctional Neuroanatomy of Grief via American Journal of PsychiatryPersonality changes and grief

Whether it was Bambi’s mom, Simba’s dad, or Ellie from Up, everyone remembers their first mentally scarring Disney death.  In this episode, your hosts dig up some repressed childhood memories by discussing their most memorable deaths from Disney. We’ll then compare these to a published psychological study of death in Disney movies to see what they’re teaching our children about mortality. It turns out that the kids of today (and yesterday!) have been exposed to far more death than you might think. But that’s not a bad thing… Hakuna Matata, and all that. Happy listening! Show notes: Death In Disney Films: Implications for Children’s Understanding of DeathUrsula Death SceneHakuna Matata

There’s an irony in kicking off season two with an episode about end-of-life planning. It’s lost on your hosts as we bring in an industry expert on the subject! Mallory McGrath is the Founder & CEO of Viive Planning, and also champions the importance of discussing death with children… a challenge all parents face, and very few are prepared to handle. After learning Mallory’s story about how she entered the field, we’ll learn some valuable truths about what to expect when prepping for the final journey. These truths then come in handy for a famous inheritance dispute pop quiz! Join us as we address the state of… well, estates.  Links: Check out Mallory McGrath and Viive PlanningPremature Menopause via She 2.0 PodcastBio Urns - Turning yourself into a treeWhat is Swedish Death Cleaning? Via NBC NewsMicrosoft Goes Full ‘Black Mirror’ with New Patent to Turn Deceased People into AI Chatbots via IndieWireDigital Services Send Messages to Your Loved Ones After You Die via NBC News, all about the Digital Time Capsule called Safe BeyondHow To Help Your Adult Children Make Their Will via Viive PlanningSherrie Johnson of JoinCake.comTop 5 Criss Angel Mindfreak Clips

Surprise!  Deathmedians, spousal deaths, and widhoe-ing… Join your macabre MCs, Maria and Ammo, as we bring Philotimo back to life with this bonus intro episode – two weeks early. We’ll start by catching you up on our improved format, release schedule, and what to expect from season two.  We’ll then bring in Tawny Platis, host of the super-popular podcast, Death is Hilarious, where she chats with others about using dark humour to cope with grief. You’ll also know her from her “Trashy Widowed Aunt” TikTok sketches that bring widows together, globally.  Finally, we’ll explore how Philotimo Life fits into the larger “Deathmedian” space. Ooooh! It’s great to be back, and it’s better to know we’re not alone. Links: Death is Hilarious – Follow Tawny on social media! FacebookTwitterPocochaInstagramTikTok Trauma Response = People Pleasing via Paces Connection“Daily Consequences of Widowhood” What is Dia de los MuertosWhat is Hypoplastic Right Heart Syndrome?“Humor can help you manage grief and cope with loss” via Thrive WorksFollow Philotimo Life on social! TwitterFacebookInstagramTikTok

Congratulations! You survived Death 101.  To celebrate your new status as a thanatologist-in-training, Maria and Ammo wrap up season one by going over their newfound understandings and favourite moments. As a special thank you to our listeners, there’s also a bumpin’ remix made of bloopers and a compilation of hilarious Anchorman-esque vocal warm-ups! Finally, they reveal what to expect from season two of Philotimo Life… which may be rising from the grave sooner than you might think. As always, happy listening and here’s to a hundred more seasons! Show notes: Follow Stacie on Spotify!Russel Brand and David Kessler - Death, Grief & FindingThat Discomfort You’re Feeling is Grief via HBR

Pop quiz: how many stages of grief are there? ...WRONG! The question should be, which grief model applies to you and in which way? In this episode, Maria and Ammo go through entirely different models of grieving. That’s right – there’s more than just the five stages model that we’re all so familiar with… but they also touch on why you’re remembering that one incorrectly, too! Focusing on the story of a man called Edgar, they apply the Elisabeth Kubler-Ross ‘Five Stages Model’ and other ones such as the ‘Attachment Model,’ the ‘Phase Model,’ and more. Happy listening! Show notes: Five Stages of Grief - Kubler-Ross ModelParkes and Bowlby Grief ModelsBeyond the five stages of grief (a reference to Colin Murray Parkes’ model)The One thing no one ever says about grievingWhat does grief feel like? Via The Guardian21 Ways to Help Someone You Love Through Grief via TIME